The Horseshoe Falls, on the Canadian side of the border, are “the biggest and best falls”, my Canadian cabbie boasted as he drove me from my hotel to the Hornblower Niagara Cruises embarkation point.

The Canadians love to get one over on their American neighbours and at 188ft high and 2,600ft wide, the Horseshoe Falls are indisputably bigger than the American Falls (around 100ft high and 1,060ft wide).

The Falls have been a tourist attraction since the 19th century when road and railway made them accessible.

Personally, I’d give the tunnels a miss and take the super-fast outside elevator to the top of the landmark Skylon Tower instead, where you can enjoy a truly awesome view of the Falls 775ft up from the observation decks or revolving restaurant.

Another must-see is the Niagara Daredevil Exhibit at the Niagara Falls’ IMAX Theatre which tells the story of those who sought fame and fortune (although rarely got rich) by going over the Falls in all manner of unusual contraptions.

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Away from the Falls themselves, Niagara Falls, Ontario has its own entertainment district, Clifton Hill.

So after you’ve seen the Falls up close from above and below, you can let your hair down with a round of mini-golf at Dinosaur Adventure Golf, with its 50ft-high flame-spouting volcano, or try “Niagara’s most terrifying experience”, The House of Frankenstein, before of course buying that all-important souvenir Niagara Falls snowglobe for the folks back home.

GO: Ontario

GETTING THERE: Return flights to Toronto from Heathrow with Air Canada start from £740 (including taxes).

Air Canada Rouge also operates a summer seasonal service from London Gatwick to Toronto, with return flights starting from £517 (including taxes).

For further information or to book a flight, visit aircanada.com or call 0871 220 1111.